Italian Grammar Lessons: Pronominal Particles ‘Ci’ & ‘Ne’

The pronominal particle ‘ci’ is used (in order of difficulty…):

– as a reflexive, direct or indirect pronoun – meaning ‘noi’
– to mean ‘there are’ in the ‘c’è/ci sono’ construction
– to refer to a place (in which case it could be replaced by the expression ‘a + something’)
– to replace the expressions ‘con + something/someone’ or ‘su + someone/something’

For example (in no particular order):

Ci svegliamo ogni mattina alle 7 per andare a prendere il treno.
[We wake up every morning at 7 to go to catch the train.]